Door latch guard



E. M. STARLLINGI' 2,127,891

DOOR LATCH GUARD Au 23, 1938. I

Filed April 4, 1936 flmsmwzi Gum/M 4,

Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to door locks and latches, and particularly to a latch bolt guard plate constructed in such a manner as to prevent a tool such as a jimmy from being inserted between the door and its jamb, to operate the latch bolt and open the door.

An important object of the invention is to provide a guard plate of this character having means to insure the accurate positioning of the guard plate with respect to the keeper plate with which it is used, and at the same time prevent displacement of the guard plate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmental sectional view through a keeper plate and guard plate, constructed in accordance with the invention and i1- lustrating the application of the guard plate.

Figure 2 is a front elevatlonal View thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the guard plate.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a keeper plate used with the guard plate.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates a keeper plate which is secured to the door jamb in the usual and 5 well known manner, the keeper plate having openings to receive the sliding bolt and latch bolt member of the usual door latch construction.

The guard plate, forming the subject matter of 40 this invention, and which is used with the keeper plate 5, embodies a plate having a substantially wide flange 6 formed along one of its longitudinal edges, the flange 6 extending at right angles to the main portion of the guard plate.

45 At each end of the guard plate, is a flange 1, which. flanges also extend at right angles to the main portion of the plate, the ends of the flanges I engaging the flange 6.

One edge of the main portion of the guard plate 0 is cut away as at 8, providing a clearance for the sliding bolt and slide latch bolt member of the latch construction, and at the same time permits the adjustment of the keeper plate to insure the operation of the sliding lock bolt and latch bolt.

In the use of the device, the keeper plate is I positioned within the confines of the flanges 6 and 1, one face of the keeper plate resting against the inner surface of the guard plate, as shown by Figure 1 of the drawing.

Elongated openings 9 are formed in the guard 10, plate and are designed to accommodate the screws II] which pass through openings ll of the keeper plate. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the keeper plate may be se cured in an adjusted position with respect to the 16 guard plate so that the keeper plate and guard plate may be adapted for use in connection with door jambs of various thicknesses.

It will of course be understood that the guard plate is secured in position by means of the 2() screws l2 that pass through the openings 13 formed in the guard plate.

In view of the fact that the flange 6 engages one surface of the door carrying the latch, at a point adjacent to the sliding latch bolt, it will 25 be obvious that the sliding latch bolt, which is indicated by the reference character l4, will be guarded against operation by an instrument usually used in jimmying a door. 4

Having thus described the invention what is 3 claimed is:

A guard plate for guarding the sliding bolt of a door latch, comprising a plate, a flange extending along one of the longitudinal edges of the plate, flanges extending along the ends of the plate, said flanges extending at right angles to the plate, said flanges contacting at the ends thereof, one edge of the plate being cut away, the portions of the plate at the ends of the cut away portion having transversely disposed elongated openings, a keeper plate resting on the guard plate and being of a length to exactly fit between the flanges at the ends of the guard plate and having openings to receive screws, whereby the keeper plate may be adjustably secured to the guard plate, and said keeper plate having openings adapted to register with the cut away portion of the guard plate to receive the sliding bolt with which the plates are used.

EDMUND M. STARLING. 

